Although the abuse may be over or even just have happened only one time a person may still experience some after effects.  The length and severity will vary by individual, duration of abuse, and support a person has in healing.  The healing process takes time and no matter how much people want you to grieve, cope, and heal. You are the only one who knows what you need and with time you will begin to understand these limits and sometimes it means telling family and friends no to something that is too much on you personally.

Some Possible After Effects Include:

• Possible triggering moments
• Sometimes after one has been sexually assaulted or abused they have certain smells, tastes, sounds, songs, television shows, touches, events, and or food that may remind them of the abuse.  These are known as triggers and they could bring back painful memories to the abuse.
• Inability to Trust
• As a survivor to sexual assault and abuse one has experienced an ultimate betrayal of trust often with a person who you felt a connection and sense of trust with whether it was with a family member or friend after a violation of one’s trust you may find that giving others your trust will take time and a lot more work then before.
• Drugs and Alcohol
• When dealing with traumatic situations one tries to cope with the tangled web of emotions by self-medicating. They turn to drugs and alcohol because they allow their problems to be drowned or masked by the “good” feelings that they find in the drugs or alcohol related highs.
• Eating Disorders
• When dealing with overwhelming emotions in one’s life their life may seem out of their control.  One way people gain some of this control is through there eating habits.  They may over indulge and eat everything or refuse to eat altogether.  Eating disorders can also be linked to a poor self-image and low self-esteem.  As a victim of sexual assault one has become a victim to the lies and controlling manner of their perpetrator.  They may feel like they are undeserving of food and or nourishment
• Self Mutilation
• In order to deal with the sometimes incredibly intense emotions that one is face with after abuse they try to get rid of the feelings by hurting themselves physically.  The actions are thought to release the emotions in the moment and will help them cope so that they can get through the moment forms of self mutilation include burning one’s self, cutting or scratching, banging one’s head on the wall.
• Guilt
• Survivors of sexual abuse are often faced with intesnse guilt and self blame.  Often this is due to the confusing emotions that are present. After sexual abuse one may feel guilty because they enjoyed it even though they didn’t want it to happen.  Others may feel confused because of their relationship with their abuser and maybe there had been previous consitent to acts of sexual relations.
• Flashbacks and Anxiety
• When working through the healing process there are times when one has very vivid memories to their abuse.  These can be brought on by a triggering event or in the form of a nightmare.  They may feel like the abuse is happening all over again or they may sense that the abuser is there with them even in the event that they are in a safe place.  These flashbacks can be very intense and vivid for the person experience them and may prevent them from doing activities they enjoyed.
• Depression and Suicide
• One dealing with sexual assault may face intense depression where they may just want to stay in bed the whole time.  During this time their daily activities and things they once enjoyed they may no longer have an interest in.  They may push away from friends and family due to all of the emotions of guilt, anger, denial, and not being able to trust.  Sexual abuse victims may also feel like it will never get better and have been hurt to much and they decide to take their own life.
• Romantic Relationships
• Romatic relationships are different with all sexual assault victioms and can be at both extremes.  One could be afraid of having any romantic relationships at all and be turned off from all aspects of romance but also one can become sexually active feeling that is all they deserve.